hinkel



(No-Model) E. P. HINKEL.

BOOK CLASP.

Patented Dec. 6,1881.

77. A wcmwm Z Ambimm CIL NTTE STATES PATENT Trice,

ERNST P. HINKEL, OF OFFENBAOH-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

BOOK-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,536, dated December 6, 1881. Application filed June 14, 1881. (No model.) Patented in Germany May 1, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ERNST PHILiPP HINKEL, a citizen of Germany, residing in Offenbachon-the-Main, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Clasps, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to improvements in locks for photograph-albums and similar books where the thickness of the volume varies with the number of pictures inserted; and the object of my invention is to provide a lock which can be readily adjusted for varying thicknesses of the book. 1 attain this object by the devices illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a front edge view of a book with my adjustable lock. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section through the lock on the line C D of Fig. 2.

The hasp consists of two principal parts namely, first, the cross-piece g, turning in bearingsff on the part k, fixed to one of the flaps, l, of the cover of the book, this crosspiece being provided with guide-tubes a a, or with other suitable guides; second, the trit'urcated piece I) 1) b the outer prongs, b b, of which, as shown in the drawings, are solid and are inserted into the guide-tubes a a, While the third or middle prong, W, is hollow and is provided with a female screw-thread. This middle prong, 11 passes into a tube, a, which is pivoted to the cross-piece g, and which has soldered to it, or otherwise rigidly attached, a central threaded shank, (I, which worksin the thread of the prong b By turning the tube 0 around its axis the trifurcated part b b b is raised or lowered, being guided on the other part by the tubes at a, and thus the length of the hasp is made adjustable.

For locking the book the hasp passes over two lock-pins, e c, on the part t', fastened to the flap m of the cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The peculiarity of my invention consists in connecting the central tube with the crosspiece that is'journaled to the book-cover by a pivotal or universal-joint connection in such a manner that its connection with the cross-piece is not disturbed or disconnected when said tube is rotated for operating upon the central prong that connects with it by a screw-connection, so as to contract or expand the distance between the covers as the size is increased or diminished by introducing or withdrawing leaves or other matter.

I am aware that prior to my invention bookhasps have been made self-adjusting by having the two parts of the hasp connected by a spring or by springs. I therefore do not claim adj ustable hasps, broadly but What 1 do claim as my invention is-- The improved book-clasp consisting of the cross-piece having journals for connecting with the cover of a book, the tubular guides 11 a, and the pivoted intermediate rotating tube, a, having central screw-shank, d, the hasp having prongs I) b and the intermediate prong, b having a screw-socket for engaging with the screw-shank within the tube 0, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ERNST PHILIP]? HINKEL.

Witnesses LoUIs BASSE, L. MAscHMANN. 

